FTAAP can offset marginalization: Chen

Chen made the remarks during an exclusive interview with reporters from Singapore-based E-News Channel that was aired Monday.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and three East Asian countries -- China, Japan and South Korea -- have set up the "ASEAN Plus Three" mechanism with the aim of establishing an East Asian community, but Taiwan is excluded from the mechanism due to China's obstruction, triggering concern that Taiwan will be marginalized economically, Chen said.

Noting that Taiwan and ASEAN have maintained close economic and trade exchanges, Chen said Taiwan is ASEAN's fourth-largest trade partner, with two way trade volume reaching around US$50 billion last year.

In addition, Chen pointed out, cumulative investment by Taiwanese manufacturers in ASEAN member states has also amounted to around US$50 billion.

However, Chen lamented that Taiwan has been ignored by its trade partners and marginalized in the growing regional economic integration because China has been seeking to break Taiwan's partnership with ASEAN.

Against this backdrop, Taiwan is looking forward to signing free trade agreements (FTAs) with its trade partners, Chen said, adding that the nation has so far inked FTAs with Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.

Chen said Taiwan also looks forward to signing an FTA with the United States and that both sides are conducting bilateral negotiations under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

As a member of the World Trade Organization, Taiwan is willing to do what it can to make contributions to the international trade system, Chen pointed out.

The president also disclosed that this year's informal leadership summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is scheduled to be held in Australia and that Australian Prime Minister John Howard has sent him a letter mentioning that APEC leaders will continue to discuss the issue initiated by U.S. President George W. Bush of establishing an FTAAP.